Music-sheet mechanism for piano-players.



No. 839,758. PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906 J J. HEALY. MUSIC SHEET'MEGHANISM FOR PIANO PLAYERS.

' APPLICATION FILED OUT. 17 1904.

Witnesses.

Attorney- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JOHN J. HEALY, OF ROCHESTER, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SOLOMON F. HESS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1906.

Application filed 0ctober 17. 1904. Sarial'No. 228,691.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that'I, J OHN J. HEALY, of the city of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music- Sheet Mechanism for Piano-Players; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,-ref

erence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon'.

My present invention relates'to improvements in devices for feeding a'strip or ribbon it is especially applicable for use in connection with a .pianoplayer employing a relatively fixed tracker-board provided with the usual apertures, over which the perforated music-s eet moves in passing from the spool to the winding-reel; and it is the purpose of my invention to provide a conveniently-arranged adjustment which is capable of so positioning each perforated sheet that the perforations of the latter will accurately register with the correspondinglyarranged apertures of the tracker-board in order to insure the best results in the operationof the even though there may be variations 1n the widths of the music-sheets.

To these and other ends my invention consists 1n certain improvements and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out (particularly in the claims hereunto annexe In the drawings,Figure 1 is a plan view of the music-sheet mechanism of a piano-player which embodies my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the tracker-board and contiguous arts on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking in the 'irection of the arrow; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the trackerboard, showing one of the adjustable guide-stops thereon;

The same numerals of reference designate similar parts in the several views.

Heretofore in the .operation of piano-players and similar devices employing a relatively movable strip or sheet having a plurality of perforations therein which must register with corresponding perforations in a over a support in a relatively fixed path, and

player relatively fixed support or tracker-board no satisfactory provision has been inade for variations in the widths of the sheets, climatic conditions causing the latter to expand and shrink, so that the perforations will not register with their corresponding a ertures of the tracker-board, and this disadvantage is eliminated by my invention, which is capable ofbeing so adjusted as to secure an accurate and positive registration of the perforations of the music-sheet with the apertures of the tracker-boards, even renderin it possible to employ sheets of difierent widths.

The present embodiment of my invention comprises generally the oppositely-arranged supports 1,. which are connected by the supporting member 2, which in the resent instance embodiesthe tracker-boar which is provided with a plurality of apertures 2, which communicate with the usual air-ducts leading to their corr'espondin valves, which latter control the operation of the key=actuating mechanism in the well-known manner. At each side of the tracker-board are mounted the 001 3 and the winding-reel 4, the former eing provided with the music-sheet 5, which is wound thereon and is rovided with the perforations 5, the latter eing arranged at regularly-spaced intervals transversely across the sheet in order to register With the correspondingly-spaced apertures 2 of the tracker-board. The spool 3 is referably of the usual construction embo ying in the present instance the-spindle G, havin i the flanges or stops 7. 7 at each end, thereo between which the sheet 5 closely fits, and is capable of being freely unwound and wound the purpose of so constructing the spool being to cause the sheet While being unwound therefrom to move in a relatively fixed path while the spool occupies a predetermined position.

In one of the supports 1 is fitted a yieldable bearing comprising, in the present instance, a spring-operated plunger 8, which is provided at one end with the axial recess or depression 9 to receive the corresponding point or projection 10, formed at one end of the spool, a spring 11 being provided and arranged to bear against the flange or projection 12 of the plunger to cause a tendency of the latter I to move toward the spool, a lateral projection 13 being provided upon the plunger and cooperating with a slot 14 in a relatively fixed portion of the support to prevent rotation of the plunger, but permit an axial or longitudinal motion thereof. At the opposite end of the spool 3 is provided an adjustable bearing embodying the stem or spindle 15, which is enlarged at one end and provided with a socket 16 to receive the corresponding end 17 of the spool, and the spindle 15 is revolubly mounted in the sleeve 18, which is provided with screw-threads upon its exterior, which cooperate with those of the bushing 19, which is threaded or otherwise secured in the corresponding support 1, the end of the sleeve 18 adjacent to the spool and upon the inner side of the support being provided, preferably, with an enlarged milled head 20, by means of which the threaded sleeve 18 may be readily and conveniently adjusted axially within the relatively fixed bushing 19, the spindle being referably removable from the sleeve in order that others may be substituted having sockets adapted to fit the corresponding portion of spools of different kinds, if desirable.

At the opposite side of the tracker-board is mounted the winding-spool or reel 4, which is provided at one end with a gear-wheel or other power-transmitting device 21, meshing with the operating pinion 22, the latter being connected to'any suitable form of operating device, which is capable of imparting rotary motion to the winding spool. One end of this winding-spool is provided with a journal or extension 23, which is Qrevolubly mounted in the bearing or bracket 24, the end of the extension being preferably formed conical and arranged to bear against av relatively fixed abutment 25, which latter is composed of metal or some suitable hard substance and is fitted to the corresponding support 1 behind the bearing or bracket 24. The opposite end of the winding spool or reel is provided with a an extension 26, which is formedto rest in a corresponding recess 27 in the threaded sleeve 28, the latter being provided with a milled head 29, by means of which the sleeve maybe adjusted in the manner described in connection with theadjustable sleeve 18, the

urpose of such an adjustment b'eing'to en- I able the winding spool or reel to be readily and accurately centered between its supports in such a manner that it will be free from longitudinal movementand in proper position to receive the sheet as it unwinds from the spool, the pointed extension 23 ofthe winding-spool cooperating with the abutment 25 to receive the thrust from the adjusting member 27.

Near each end of the tracker-board are provided the brackets 30, which are preferably arranged in pairs upon opposite sides thereof and formedto receive, the parallel arms 31-31 of the guides 32, which latter,

in the present instance, are yoke shape so as to rest over and straddle the edge of the tracker-board, and thus form stops or guides between which the sheet will move in a relatively fixed path, these guides being adjustable relatively to each other in order that music-sheets of dif ferent widths may be accommodated and held inv such position by frictional engagement between the brackets and the sides of r the support 2. v

In applying a spool containing the music sheet or strip the pointed extension 10 thereof is inserted in the recess 9 of the plunger 8 and pressure is a plied until the latter is retracted suflicient y'to enable the end 17 of the s ool.to enter the corresponding socket 16, t e compression of the spring 11 acting upon the plunger 8 operating to retain the spool and its supporting-bearings in cooperative relation irrespective of the position of the spool. 'The free end of the sheet may then be extended over the tracker-board and attached to the winding-spool 4 in the usual manner, and in order that the perforations of the music-sheet may be brought accurately in register with their correspondin a ertures of the tracker-board the threadec s eeve 18 is rotated through 20 to cause a relatively lon itudinal movement of-the spool which will bring the perforations of the music-sheet and the apertures of the tracker-board accurately in register, the longitudinal motion thus imparted to the spool bein compensated for by the spring-operated p unger'8, which is capable of moving axially without permitting disengagement of the spool and its sup orts. When the spool has been thus properfyadjusted, the guides 32 82 may be moved up until they engage or rest in immediate proximity to the adjacent edges of the musicsheet, and thus operate as sto s for guiding it in a relatively over the tracker-board.

A device of the character fixed path in its passage its milled head ano may be instantly and convenlently adj'usted to accommodate music-sheets of varying widths, as the adjusting-heads 20 and 27 are located between the supports 1, an

therefore are accessible through the aperture which is usually provided for the insertion and removal of the s 001 containing the music-sheet, which renr ers the manipulation of the adjusting devices convenient without removing any portion of the casing of the device to which the device is applied. Moreover, these adjusting devices'are ca being manipulated very convenient y while the music-sheet is in motion, thereby enabling the operator to accurately adjust the position of the music-sheet relatively to the tracker-board while the sheet and the s 001s are in motion, and this is a material a van able of I tage over other devices of the same general character, as these adjustments do not necessitate the interruption of the device nor the removal or displacement of any of its parts.

By employing the adjustable spool and the tracker-board guides in the manner hereinbelore explained it enables me to use a receiving or winding spool without flanges, as the m usic-sheet in passing from the windingspool and between the guides will be wound evenly upon the winding-spool, which renders the use of flanges thereon unnecessary, and thereby permits music-sheets of varying widths to be wound upon the same windingspool with equal facility.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with relatively fixed supports, a tracker-board located betweenthem, and the spool and winding-reel, the former having a sheet or strip wound thereon arranged to move over the tracker-board and wind upon the reel, of a bearing mounted'in one support and receiving one end of the spool arranged to yield under pressure in a direction axially of the spool, an adjustable bearing for the opposite end of the spool located in the other support and operating means arranged axially of the spool between the supports for varying the position of the spool in an axial direction.

2. In a device of the character described the combination with a relatively fixed support, and the spool and receiving-roller, the former having a strip or sheet wound thereon arranged to move over the support and wind upon the roller, of a bearing supporting one end of the spool capable of yielding in adirection axially of the spool, and a bearing supporting the opposite end of the spool embodying a threaded sleeve fitted in a relatively fixed support and cooperating with the spool to move the latter in direction axially t rereof when it is rotated.

3. In a device of the character described the combination with the oppositely-disposed supports and the spool and winding reel or roller arrangedv between them, the former bein provided with a strip or sheet arranged to lie wound upon the winding-reel, of a bearing for supporting one end of the spool capable of yielding in a direction axially of the latter, and a bearing supporting the opposite end of the spool embodying a threaded portion fitted into one of the supports and cooperating with the spool, and

aving an operating portion thereon whichis located between the supports.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with the oppositelydisposed supports, and the spool and windingreel arranged between them, of a bearing for supporting one end of the spool adjustable I in a direction axially of the spool, and a bearingfor supporting the opposite end of the spool embodying a threaded sleeve fitted into one of the supports having an operating portion located between the support and spool for imparting rotary motion to the sleeve, and a spindle revolubly mounted in the sleeve and cooperating with the adjacent end of the spool for supporting it.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with the supports and the spool and winding-reel arranged between them, of a bearing the spool adjustable in a the spool, and a bearing for supporting the opposite end of the spool embodying a sleeve having a threaded portion fitted. into one of the supports and an operating-head located at the inner side of the support by means of which the sleeve may be rotated, and a spindle revolubly fitted into the sleeve and hav ing a head thereon cooperating with corresponding portion of the spool for supporting the latter.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with the oppositelyarranged supports, and the spool arranged bedirection axially of for supporting one end of tween them, of a bearing for supporting one end of the spool capable of yielding or adjusting itself in a direction axially of the spool, and a bearing for supporting the opposite end of the spool embodying a bushing threaded into one of the supports, a sleeve threaded into the bushing and having an operating portion thereon, and a spindle revolubly mounted in the sleeve and cooperating with the acent end of the spool for supporting the latter.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with the relatively fixed tracker-board having the apertures therein, and the spool and winding-reel, the former having a strip or sheet wound thereon provided with perforations corresponding to those of the tracker-board, of guides mounted on the tracker-board each embodying a contral portion straddling the edge of the board and parallel arms movably supported in brackets on opposite sides of the trackerboard to permit the relative positions of the guides to be adjusted.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with the relatively fixed tracker-board, spaced guides thereon and a spool having a strip or sheet wound ther on arranged to pass over the tracker-board between the guides, of a reel adapted to receive said strip, relatively adjustable bearings for positioning the reel longitudinally, supports for the bearings, and means located intermw diate the supports and axially of the bearings for operating the latter.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination with the relatively iixed trackeT-board or support and the spool ad- Justabie axially and having strip or sheet Wound thereon and arranged to pass Over the tracker-board, and guides capable of adjustment in a direstion transversely of the musicsheet, of a receiving roliei or reel adapted t0 reeeive said strip, adjustabie hearings therefer and means located on the axis of the roller on the inner side of its support for operating the bearings to move the roller axially. 1c

JOHN J. HEALY.

Witnesses CLARENCE A. BATEMAN, G. WILLARD RICH. 

